WA school district cancels 'Know Your Rights' session amid threats, online harassment
EDMONDS, Wash. - A "Know Your Rights" session planned in partnership with the Mexican Consulate has been canceled by the Edmonds School District following threats and harassment sparked by social media backlash.
The event, originally scheduled for December 17 at Meadowdale High School, was intended to provide critical information for families about how to prepare for immigration raids and understand their rights when approached or detained by law enforcement or immigration agents.
However, comments on social media, including threats such as "happy hunting" and suggestions of aiding immigration enforcement, led the district to deem the venue no longer safe.
"This type of rhetoric is polarizing and harmful," Melissa Rubio, Deputy Director of One America, a nonprofit advocating for immigrant rights, said. "There’s a lot at stake when our community doesn’t know their rights."
The session was designed for the district’s diverse student population, where 24% identify as Hispanic or Latino, and minority students make up 47.1% of the total enrollment.
Rubio emphasized that providing this information is essential for immigrant families to feel safe, especially under a new administration that has signaled stricter immigration policies.
"We are facing a very unfriendly federal administration that has already promised harm to immigrant communities," Rubio said. "One of the first steps for people to protect themselves and their families is to know their rights."
News of the event was shared on the account "Libs of TikTok" on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where it garnered over 588,000 views and hundreds of divisive comments. Some users posted inflammatory remarks, such as, "Great time to round them all up" and "If you’re here illegally, you should not get ‘rights.’"
Rubio expressed disappointment at the decision but said it underscored the need for such sessions.
"We equip people with the knowledge they need to ensure that them, their families, and their communities know what they can and can't do in the face of raids or targeted deportation," Rubio said.
The Edmonds School District said it remains committed to providing families with the information that would have been shared at the canceled session.
Everyone in the U.S. is guaranteed rights under the Constitution, regardless of immigration status, according to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.
FOX 13 reached out to "Libs on TikTok" regarding their post but have not heard back.
The sessions, which have been a staple of immigrant advocacy organizations for years, educate participants on their constitutional rights, such as the requirement for a warrant before entering a home, regardless of immigration status.
"These sessions are not about aiding or abetting anyone," Rubio said. According to One America, there has been an increase in demand for these sessions since the 2016 election.
Trump’s immigration plans stir anxiety among WA immigrants, advocates
This week, President-elect Donald Trump announced Tom Homan as his pick for "border czar," reviving concerns among immigrant communities and advocacy groups nationwide.
"Our members and community partners have been asking us to hold these trainings as the fear of deportation rises again," Rubio noted.
Rubio also addressed the economic and social impact of anti-immigrant sentiment.
"If we deport every immigrant in this state, who will work in our restaurants, clean our hospitals, or pick the food we eat? Immigrants are invaluable to our economy and our communities," Rubio said.
Despite the cancelation, the Edmonds School District is exploring ways to ensure families still receive the critical information intended for the event.
"Everyone in the U.S., regardless of immigration status, has rights under the Constitution," Rubio said. "Our job is to make sure they know and can exercise them."
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